The crazy six-wheeled Nautilus car featured in Sean Connery’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is set to be sold on July 11th by international auctioneers Coys.
The car is one of just two examples ever made and production designer and art director Carol Spier designed it. This particular unit is used heavily in the film as well as the promotional posters while the second came complete with scaffolding to help film close-ups. As a result, this is really the only unmolested one.
Based around a Land Rover fire tender, the Nautilus features a steel frame as well as a Rover V8 engine. A bespoke fibreglass shell has been fitted while the interior incorporates faux leather as well as original Land Rover dials. Hydraulic suspension is also used to adjust the ride height. The car is expected to sell for between a mere 18,000 and 25,000 pounds.
Discussing the car, managing partner of Coys, Chris Routledge said “We have a long tradition of selling film, television and celebrity cars, and having such a cool car from such a cool film is really exciting. We are offering an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the cars that actually appeared in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and which will undoubtedly increase in value in years to come.”
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“An ‘extraordinary’ car, and one of the most famous movie vehicles in the world
Captain Nemo’s six-wheeled Nautilus car from Sean Connery’s adventure movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will be sold by international auctioneers Coys at their Blenheim Palace auction on July 11th.
Designed by production designer and art director Carol Spier and one of only two made, this fully functional and complete vehicle was used throughout the film and features heavily on the promotional posters. Its twin was rigged with scaffolding for filming the actor’s close-ups.
Chris Routledge, Managing Partner of Coys, said: “We have a long tradition of selling film, television and celebrity cars, and having such a cool car from such a cool film is really exciting. We are offering an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the cars that actually appeared in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and which will undoubtedly increase in value in years to come.”
The vehicle started life as a Land Rover fire tender, adapted via a steel frame with the addition of a Rover V8 engine. The chassis is covered in an intricate ivory coloured fibreglass shell and features a wealth of elaborate embellishments in an aged gold effect on both the exterior and interior. Inspiration for the decoration was taken from the Hindu god Ganesha and assorted flora and fauna. The interior is trimmed with faux leather and even features the original Land Rover dials.
The wheels each measure 72cm and hidden within the arches are hydraulics to adjust the ride height. The car retains most of its original functionality and shows signs of wear and evidence of running repairs from on-set use. In spite of this wear, the car is in running condition.
For the last few years, the car has been part of a large collection of movie props and costumes at Prop Store’s UK facility. It is estimated at £18,000 to £25,000.
Stephen Lane, founder of Prop Store, said: “I bought the Nautilus from the film company after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came out because I loved the car, loved the design and felt it was one of the most emotive vehicles I have ever seen, a true design icon. I have taken it to Essen, driven it at the Lord Mayor’s Show and now feel its time to let somebody else own it and enjoy it.””
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